1899.

were

Obituary: Mrs. Mortlock.

not so prominently cultivated as those acquisitions which were of moral and religious value, and, as considered with a view to the highest ends of our existence, of infinitely more im portance.

She was always cheerful and lively, never so happy as when at home, fond of music, particularly of Divine Psalmody, but had no taste for the light and frivolous compositions which are so fatally seductive and injurious to devotion. Whatever presented a lure to dissipation, she always regarded with suspicion, and was jealous over with godly jealousy. On the other hand, general history, the studies of nature, the works of God in creation and providence, generally engaged her attention. She had also a general knowledge of the Latin and French languages; and, from an earnest desire to read the Scriptures in the original, had made a moderate proficiency in Hebrew.

As she grew up, a desire to promote early piety in others was a distinguished feature in her character. After the establishment of Bentinck School in 1798, she superintended and instructed a class of girls. Incipient and juvenile as were her efforts, some of the pupils, now grown up, speak of them with grateful recollection, and describe them as not having been in vain in the Lord. Nor can her bereaved parent ever forget the pleasure afforded at a subsequent period, now nearly twenty years past, when, in a country village, where they had not resided six weeks, one afternoon he came in, and unexpectedly found both the parlours of the house occupied by about fifty poor children, whom his beloved children had collected, and were instructing in the elements of the Gospel of Christ.

When she attained her fifteenth year, she was anxiously desirous of being admitted to the holy communion. On this subject she communicated her sentiments to her mother, and evinced a very humble estimate of herself, and deep attainments in self-knowledge. Some of her expressions were, "I feel my mind engaged with mere trifles, and my attention wanders from God. Blessed be his holy name, he is not extreme to mark what is amiss. I have a Saviour, whose precious blood cleanseth from all sin. I pray for his grace to enable me to love, honour, and serve him as long as I live in this world. I hope I may go to him in early life; for this world has many snares, and nothing but I had rather Divine grace can guard me. go to my Saviour, and then I shall be safe for ever, and love him as I would.”

On the 19th April, 1808, she entered the state of matrimony, with one of her father's congregation, Mr. John Mortlock.

261

Her means of doing good being now con-
siderably increased, her scale of benefi-
cence increased in proportion. Where-
ever she resided, though but for a time,
the instruction of poor children was alway
one of her first objects of attention. The
interests of the kingdom ofthe Redeemer,
the conversion of Jews and Gentiles, the
distribution of the Holy Scriptures, Prayer-
books, and religious Tracts, were objects
which lay near her heart, and engaged her
prayers, and unsolicited contributions.
The poor and afflicted of the neighbour-
hood always shared in her sympathies;
her judicious advice when health permit-
ted, and her prayers and liberal aid when
she could not render her active services.

In May 1820, it pleased God to visit her with the loss of her eldest child, who, after most painful suffering for two years, sustained with exemplary patience and piety, resigned her happy spirit to her The memoir of this heavenly Father.

tender and pious sufferer, who departed this life at the age of nine years, has been read in manuscript by many hundreds of persons, and exhibits not only great precocity of intellect, an engaging sensibility of heart, and a delightful illustration of infant piety, but a powerful confirmation of her mother's lively affection, blended with wise and firm regulation, and constantly directed by a holy and persevering regard to her child's eternal welfare. The last farewell the dear child took of her grandfather, was also highly indicative of the religious sympathies of her beloved parent. Pressing his hand, she said, "I pray that God may strengthen you in every good work; and bless your ministry; and make you a blessing to the children of our congregation."

In January 1823 she was called to experience a second bereavement in the loss of an engaging infant of twenty months. By these afflictive dispensations, and long painful experience, the heart of the mother was weaned from the world, prepared to quit this scene of trial, and to anticipate that haven of rest which she was shortly to enter.

It would be easy to fill a large space. with interesting passages from her conversation and letters, and with appropriate But F texts and hymns which she cited with great promptitude and facility. must content myself with a very few brief illustrations. On one occasion she observed to her sister, "I have had a long and painful illness; I have for weeks scarcely sat up an hour; I am reduced exceedingly. I cannot sit up except for a few minutes, but it is wonderful how I am spared year after year; I trust that to depart would be gain; but when I look at my dear child, I cannot help wishing, if it

were the will of God, to abide yet for a
little season. But at the foot of the cross
I desire to leave my soul and body, my
child, and all.

I would praise Him for all that is past,
And trust Him for all that's to come."
Such was her constant feeling.

She
would say,
when extremely ill, and in
great pain," God hath delivered; in him
will I trust; he will yet deliver; and if
not, all will be well for eternity."

Frequently she would say, "My pain is very great. Oh what a trial is pain to faith. Still it is my Father's hand. Oh, support me! spare me a little, that I may recover my strength! I am very ill, in extreme pain; my nerves are greatly agitated. Oh, pray for me, that I may not be taken away while in this state. I hope I shall have patience given me to bear all the will of my God.

"Sweet to lie passive in his hands,

And know no will but his. This is comfort." Then, in a most heavenly and feeling manner, Oh, may an abundant entrance be ministered to me! May I depart in peace, according to thy word." Again she added, "Pray much for me. I am weak and helpless. Jesus is the Advocate; he ever liveth to make intercession; he is merciful and faithful. Here is my strong hold.”

During her last illness, she was too feeble to sit up, but she would lie in her bed and occasionally make clothes for the poor; and within five days of her departure, when too weak to do this any longer, she gave directions to others, and expresed pleasure in seeing her charitable intentions executed.

After receiving the holy communion, as it proved for the last time, she said, "If we should never again be partakers together upon earth, I trust we shall be among the happy number who shall sit down at the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

In a letter written on her bed, in a recumbent posture, to her much-loved mother, with a tremulous hand, dated last June 27, the last letter she ever wrote, she thus expressed herself: " I had an alarming attack in the night of the 7th inst.: for six hours my labouring for breath was most distressing. I thought I was dying. Blessed be God, every fear was gone; and no parting pang known. The twenty-first and twenty-second verses of Jude were my strong consolation. Praise, O praise his name. I could not bear to speak or be moved. I had a similar attack on Sunday, June 15, and I certainly think disease is making progress, and my strength declines. I am much less anxious, and do hope I leave all simply, with scarce a wish or prayer, except for grace and patience to bear all it may be the will

of God to lay upon me. I am very weary in body and mind, unable to think, or read, or hear: but at the foot of the cross I have lived; there I hourly cast myself; there I desire to die, in full assurance I shall awake up after his likeness. Farewell, dearest parents; pray, praise; and trust your affectionate child to our dear and precious Saviour."

To her father, who went to Brighton to see her, alas, little suspecting to witness her dissolution,-she said, with great feeling, "How I admire the sublime words of your dear mother on her dying bed. She was speaking of the boundless love of Christ, and his salvation, and she observed, It is a glorious salvation; a free, unmerited salvation! a full, complete salvation! a perfect, eternal salvation! It is deliverance from every enemy; it is a supply of every want; it is all I can wish for in time; it is all I can now wish for in death; it is all I shall want in eternity."" She repeated these words several times, at different periods, with elevated feelings, and her eyes directed to heaven.

To one of her nieces she said, “Oh, what a blessing it is to know the Holy Scriptures from a child. I cannot tell you what a comfort it is to be able to remember what I have learnt; and to think of it, when I am too ill to do any thing else. Oh, endeavour to store your mind well with portions of Scripture, while young and in health." It had been the custom,for the children, even when very young, to repeat every Saturday morning, at family prayer, a few verses of Scripture, selected from Bishop Gastrell's Christian Institutes, and also a Psalm or Hymn. By this early and constant habit, combined with her diligent perusal of the sacred records, she had acquired so familiar an acquaintance with the Holy Bible, that there were few passages which she could not readily quote.

She frequently desired the liiid and lv th chapters of Isaiah to be read to her, and one day remarked, "The liiid chapter speaks of the salvation provided for fallen sinners; the lv th invites all to receive it. I love those chapters which describe the sufferings of Christ. I find nothing so profitable as the consideration of what he endured for our redemption; the simplicity also with which the Evangelists relate every circumstance, is very striking." To her mother, for so she ever delighted to call her second parent, she said several times with great affection, "My beloved mother, mercy attended my entrance into life; mercy has accompanied me through life; and mercy is crowning my departure out of life; with the prospect of everlasting glory." To a friend she said, "I have

1829.]

Obituary: Mrs. Mortlock.

been meditating on the glorious multi-
tude that no man can number, all saved
by the same Redeemer, all washed in the
some blood; all clothed in the same righte-
ousness. Sometimes I tremble at the idea
of the soul quitting the body, and going
forth alone naked into the presence of God.
Yet not naked, for being unclothed, we
On the same
shall be clothed upon."
friend remarking, It is a peculiar mercy,
that in your present weak state, you are
so preserved from oppressive fears, she
replied, "Six weeks ago I was deeply
tried with doubts and fears, but they are
all past away now, as the morning cloud:
the valley is not dark: but I am too ill to
rejoice; sickness and pain have brought
me very low, but I have not one fear. Un-
derneath me are the everlasting arms, and
on them I repose." Three days before her
death, she applied to herself the words of
the ever-memorable Richard Hooker, and
said, "Blessed be God, I have been long
preparing to leave the world. I have, by
his grace loved him in my youth, and
feared him in mine age. O Lord, shew
mercy unto me; I plead not my righte-
ousness, but the forgiveness of my un-
righteousness, through his merits who
died to purchase pardon for penitent sin-
ners." She then desired her father to read
the whole passage, from a little tract of
his, called The Contrast, which he had
given to her beloved child Louisa, and
which,ever since her death, had been kept
He read the
in her New Testament.
whole paragraph, and when he came into
the room in the evening to read and pray
with her, she desired him to read it
again. After he had read it, and also the
short account of the death of Dr. Dod-
dridge, and had prayed with her, she re-
peated Dr. Doddridge's sublime Hymn:
"O Thou, that hast redemption wrought!
Patron of souls thy blood hath bought!
To thee my spirit I commit,
Mighty to rescue from the pit."

In this exertion, her feelings were high-
ly elevated, till she became quite exhausted.
The day before her death, when her
father entered the room, stretching out
her emaciated arms, and putting them
round his neck, she said, "Beloved
father!" After a pause, speaking with
great difficulty," Look at your poor sink-
in the arms of her heavenly
ing child
Father."

Sunday, Aug. 24. was truly Dies lachrymabilis, gloriosa dies. She had repeatedly said," I have had three very painful Sundays; the fourth, I trust, will be a Sabbath of rest in heaven." She appeared this day sinking, and could scarcely

263

speak so as to be heard. Her father re-
mained with her, and she was apparently
dying. About noon, she desired him to
read Rev. vii. 9, &c. and at the close ob-
served, "Ah,there the inhabitant shall never
After this, some Psalms
say I am sick."
and Hymns were read, and the family being
all present, joined in Divine worship for
the last time in this world. Immediately
after, she spoke very affectionately, and
then said, "Now leave me quite alone."
On which all retired, except her beloved
child, whom she desired to remain. The
endeared scenes of domestic affection and
solicitude are sacred to privacy: these,
the reader will perceive, have therefore
been passed over, though they would not
have been the least interesting part of the
narrative.

66

very

In the evening, her father, at her desire, repeated to her a Psalm, and prayed with her; when, being so exhausted that she could scarely look up, she just Returnthanked him very affectionately, and advised him to retire to rest. ing about eleven o'clock, he found her almost torpid, but perfectly calm and intelligent. In answer to his affectionate inquiries, she whispered that, as to the sufferings of her body, she was now comfortable, and free from pain ;" and in her mind "perfectly happy, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith;" adding, "There is no other foundation, no other comfort now." Her voice was at this time faint, and faultering. She continued in a state of extreme exhaustion, dozing and taking no notice of any thing around her. About twelve at night, she endeavoured to raise herself, I but had no power. The nurse supported her; she said, "Well, I suppose take my medicine;" then dropt her head on the nurse's shoulder, and, in the presence of her husband and child, without a sigh expired. Not a doubt or fear was permitted to distress her mind: as in life, so in death, her trust was only in her Saviour.

must

In the

Thus died Ann Louisa Mortlock, aged forty-two years, seven months. It is not necessary to dwell upon the features of her character, which will be readily gathered from the foregoing narrative. sympathizing language of an esteemed friend, to whom her infancy, youth, and growing years were well known; "The conviction of her blessed state, the memorial of her holy life, almost prohibit the language of condolence, notwithstanding her inestimable loss. Her departure has caused tears to flow, but not unmingled with tears of joy."

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

́H. W.; J. T.; H. S. C. H.; E. M. B.; Delta; J. H.; EDINENSIS G.; W.; J. S—¤; and LAICUS; are under consideration.

The important measures, to which several of our correspondents allude having now passed into a law, we see no benefit likely to arise from a protracted controversy on the subject. We are much indebted, not only for the kind and cordial communications of several who concur in our views, but for the candid and Christian remarks of some who differ; and as for two writers who have thought they were doing God service by the display of a very different spirit, we only lament they should have written what, in their cooler moments, they will regret.

SUPPLEMENT TO RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

The information in the Extracts, especially that from Germany and South America, is very interesting, but too miscellaneous to admit of analysis.

ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY.

The Reporter contains a powerful and most convincing reply to the objections which have been urged against certain of its former statements, in respect to the proceedings of some of our church societies connected with the West Indies. We should but weaken the argument by attempting to abridge it. It narrates also another most afflicting instance of West-Indian cruelty perpetrated upon a poor slave-woman, which terminated only with the death of the victim. Is it possible that any humane or Christian man can any longer identify himself, directly or indirectly, with a system which, besides its incurable injustice, even in the most lenient hands, is the ever-ready minister to atrocities like this?

REFORMATION SOCIETY.

The impression of a third edition of this month's Extracts evinces the eagerness with which British Protestants are turning their attention to the religious welfare of their Roman-Catholic countrymen. We look however, under the blessing of God, to a wise and persevering system, rather than to any momentary ebullition of zeal, for the best welfare of Ireland; and we would especially urge the friends of our various societies to continue to conduct their measures with that meekness of wisdom which Mr. Wilson has so justly pointed out in a preceding page. We observe that the name of one of the vice-presidents of the Reformation Society no longer appears in the list ; a circumstance equally honourable to all parties; but this Christian test of sincerity having been given, we should rejoice to see a highly respected name again in its place. We do not quite comprehend the observations of one of the Society's correspondents, page 2 of the subjoined Extracts. If any friend of the Society wishes so to modify or enlarge its original object, which we always understood was to promote the principles of the Reformation among Roman Catholics, as to make it a Home Missionary Society to "twenty-one millions of fellow-Christians, to appeal to Protestants as well as Romanists," it were better that that object were distinctly specified.

IRISH SUNDAY-SCHOOL SOCIETY..

We feel most anxious again to remind our readers of the importance of supporting the religious institutions connected with Ireland. Appended to the present and several of our recent Numbers, they will find the latest notices relating to the Reformation Society, and the Hibernian Society. We now lay before them the Report of another institution inferior in importance to none; the Sunday-School Society for Ireland, on the merits of which we need not now expatiate, as we have so often and cordially done so in our former volumes. The Report is printed in Dublin, but a sufficient number of copies have been imported to append to our publication; in the hope, which we trust will not be disappointed, that the powerful claim of this Society to the public patronage needs only to be more fully known to be duly appreciated, especially at the present moment. We must refer our readers to the document itself, for its important and interesting details.

COMMITTEE FOR THE GIPSEYS.

We have inserted in our volumes numerous papers and inquiries respecting that anomalous and neglected class of persons the Gipseys. Their cause is, we are rejoiced to learn, beginning to be taken up with affection and zeal, and we earnestly recommend our readers to weigh with care the truly interesting notices in the paper appended to our present Number, and to use their zealous efforts to promote the benevolent and Christian object of the Committee. Our publisher would receive and transmit any donations to further the object.

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